Sunday, 29 July 2018

Mon, 23 Jul - It is early morning Seminary day - oh boy it was hard to get my eyes open, let alone get my body out of bed. Oh wait a minute - today is a school free day, so no seminary.  Hurrah, time to go back to bed. Sister Haley went on to declutter for 4 1/2 hours.  One more declutter Monday after this one.  Elder Haley stayed home and did some ironing and cleaning of the flat.

Tue, 24 Jul - Now we had seminary.  5 am comes awful early and quickly.  A real shock to the ol' body after a 2 week holiday. Oh, boy - today is the day.  It is Platypus hunting day - only hunting to see them. We are going with Joyce Wallbank to Nymboida (the home of the platypus).  Our first stop was a dud - the place is locked down and no one is allowed to cross the property to see the platypus.  We go to one of the camping grounds and talk with a friendly bloke who tells us that one of the best places is where Margaret and I were 3-4 months ago - we just went at the wrong time of day.  So off we go and we can see a platypus flopping around in the water as we walk the cliff down to the bank of the Nymboida river.  👍😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 We spend roughly the next hour watching the little fella swim and play in the river.  We also saw 2 of them playing together and it is on video which is posted on FB, since the blog will not handle video.  It was the best day!!!!!  Then we stopped at Coutts Crossing for dinner and then took Joyce on home.  We are one of the few people who have been privileged to see platypus in the wild.

Wed, 25 Jul - Early morning seminary - it was easier today after the great day we had yesterday.  We called and talked with Mike's mum and one of our daughters. We drove out to Tucabia and visited with Sarah for a bit and were able to see & play with her new daughter, Rachel.  It was pretty country there - just west of Ulmarra (in case you want to know where it is 😂😂)  Then home to make French Bread before the primary activity, FHC and Young Women.

Thur, 26 Jul - FHC in the morning, plus a bunch of phone calls to find out who we can visit when.  Then off to the Blue Goose for lunch with the Prices.  Then run some errands.  Dinner is at the Leach's - Shane is cooking spaghetti Bolognese for us.  It was good and went well with the french bread.

Fri, 27 Jul - visits and more visits. A welfare good run.  Went with one of the sisters to help evaluate a financial advisor.  We stopped by the South Grafton Aged Care facility and visited for quite a while with Dorothy Legwidge (Margaret Leach's mum).

Sat, 28 Jul - Elder Haley played handyman this morning for Margaret Leach. We got finished in time to head out to Poley House road and have lunch with the Paewai family.  To our surprise, Joyce Wallbank was there also - hurrah.  We had a grand tour of the Paewai farm and had a really good time.

Sun, 29 Jul - A normal Sunday - almost. Sister & Elder Haley gave talks in Sacrament.  Elder Haley pinch hitted for Gospel Doctrine class and Elder Haley lead the 3rd hour discussion on Ministering.  Sister Stiller came by the flat later in the afternoon to get debriefed by Sister Haley.  Then final preparations for teaching seminary tomorrow.

Relief Society activity.  Don't waste a thing.  Either use it up or make it into something else.

A soap holder and shower scrubber

Elder Haley, Sister Haley, Joyce Wallbank - afternoon tea while waiting for it to get late enough to go find a platypus

On the lookout for a platypus

He is there.  upper middle right of the photo.  you need to zoom in a bit

Platypus ahoy - middle of the photo

Broadside picture of the platypus

Another broadside photo

And one last shot

Elder Haley and Joyce Wallbank along the Nymboida River

Hey, what are you doing down there on the river.  Get a move on now, this is my territory

The gate into the platypus viewing area

The ladies room at Coutts Crossing Tavern

Sarah & Rachel Rapmund with Sister Haley

Manahi Paewai

Some of the kids playing out back of the branch meeting house

Shane & Margaret Leach.   Sister & Elder Haley. Taking pictures and letting the food get cold

Typical Aussie country house.  Also known as a Queenslander.  Note the large porch/veranda all around the outside of the house.

A new mailbox compliments of Handyman Haley

Poley House road

The cattle dog is herding the ducks

A partial view of the Paewai farm

Garlic.  these will be pulled up and used for seed for a retail crop next year.

Baby Pine cones in a cluster that we have not seen before.

The creek on the Paewai farm.  The water is a bit stagnant at the moment due to lack of rain

Manahi checking out some of the holes in the rock along the creek bed

Tui, Stafford Paewai, Joyce Wallbank, Manahi Paewai, Elder Haley.  The two holes in front of us are aboriginal grinding holes.

Tui, Margaret, Joyce, Manahi, Mike

The grinding holes made in the rock along the creek by aboriginals years ago.

Sunday, 22 July 2018

Mon, 16 Jul - The BIG day has arrived.   We got up at 430 am and picked up Kerry Arthur at 6 am.  Stopped to top up the petrol tank and then headed north on the A1 to Brisbane.  We arrived at the Brisbane temple about 10 am.  We took a few photos and then reported into the the temple.  Normally the temple is not open on Mondays, but the Brisbane temple opens one Monday every 6 weeks for young missionaries that are going home.  Many are from countries without a temple and this helps fortify them spiritually before they go home.  The Temple President, President Cowan, offered to have some of his staff help Kerry with her sealing to her parents on this Monday.   The lights in the temple were turned off so the glare & emi would not bother Kerry.  The temple was very quiet and peaceful.  Because it was so quiet and very few people, the Spirit was super strong for us all.  Kerry was sealed to her parents and she performed a few other sealings of family while she was able to be in the temple.  We also were able to sit in the celestial room for a bit - a wonderful room to consider family and our eternal relationship with our family and Heavenly Father.  It was a super spiritual day for us all.  We got back to Grafton around 530 pm. Tired, but very Happy.

Tue, 17 Jul - One of the nice things about being a senior missionary is that we have more time/opportunity to talk with friends and family back home.  Margaret made a 2 1/2 hour video chat with one of her friends back in the US.  ELDER HALEY, in the mean time, went shopping at the grocery store, talked with the District President regarding one of the sisters in the branch, stopped by the sister's flat to drop off the information from the District President, went to the meetinghouse and created a PowerPoint to be used this coming Sunday on Aussie's using LDS.Org for their tithing and other contributions.  Finally, Margaret got off the video and became Sister Haley (again).  We read our scriptures (New Testament at the moment) together.  Then we went back to the sister's flat and followed up on what Elder Haley had dropped off.  Then a quick bite for lunch and on out to visit with the Howards for a few hours - we really enjoy visiting with them.  Stopped by the Price's and got some branch work done.  Back home to post the Blog and then over to one of the other families to help them with the LDS.org donation application.  One more stop at the seminary student's home and then we can eat dinner.  Sister Haley is making pie crust while Elder Haley is typing up the blog.

Wed, 18 Jul - Last Wednesday to sleep in before seminary starts next week. Elder Haley checked out a financial planner for one of the single sisters in he branch. Sister Haley went off looking for knitting needles at the thrift shops. Then to BigW to print some pictures for some of the sisters in the branch. We dropped by Shane Leach's home to wish him a happy 18th birthday.  Now back home finish dinner preparations for one of the single brothers - roast pork.

Thu, 19 Jul - Family History centre in the morning.  Then off to find a "kissin" cousin for Sister Cashman/Mackie who we met at Tom Anderson's funeral.  We found him and had a lovely chat and learned quite a bit about the history in this part of the country.  Over to Ulmarra used book store to look for some books for Mike's mum.  Then back to Grafton for a 2:30 meeting.  Helped clean the building before a Primary Presidency meeting.  Then home for dinner and a rest.  Doing service can sure wear you out physically 😁, but lift you up spiritually.

Fri, 20 Jul - In the morning we went looking for one of the sisters and found her at the home of one of her children - baby sitting.  We talked awhile and made arrangements to be her plan B for some medical visits that she needs to make in the coming weeks.  At noon, we met with another sister and went to a financial planning meeting with her, so that she had a second/third pair of ears/eyes to better understand what was being presented.

Sat, 21 Jul - We made a Viber call to our son Ryan and caught up with what is going on in his & his wife's life.  Then we went out visiting some of the sisters in South Grafton - homes and Aged care facilities.  Home for a quick lunch and then to a Relief Society activity.  The attendance was pretty good, the food was great and the sisters seemed to have a very good time.  We cleaned up after the activity and went home.

Sun, 22 Jul - A normal Sunday.  Elder Haley had a Branch Presidency meeting.  Then the normal meetings - the talks were good and focused around the promises we make when we are baptised. We then went home and worked on our visiting calendar for the next (and last) 3 weeks.  We have heaps of people to see and want to make sure we get them all visited without too big a rush.

The Relief Society (RS) activity for this week.  Fix it Up, Wear it out, make it do - or do without.  Trying to encourage the sisters (and brothers) to be sensible in what we do and want.

Sister Haley and Kerry Arthur, with Moroni up above

Elder Haley and Kerry Arthur

The Brisbane temple - it is the house of the Lord.  We felt His Spirit very strongly there this day

The Haleys & Kerry Arthur

Kerry Arthur and the Haleys.  Moroni in the top of the photo at the Brisbane temple

The Brisbane, QLD Temple

The Gazebo across from the Brisbane temple, where we ate our lunch. It overlooks Brisbane CBD and the river

Guess who?

The River from the Gazebo at Kangaroo Point and looking towards Brisbane CBD (city business district)

What a jaunty stance by the two ladies feeling might fine after spending time in the Brisbane temple

Temperature outside = 3C/37F,  Inside = 12C/53F  It gets a bit nippy inside the flat.

Pecan pie with choc chips - an Aussie recipe.  Going to become one of Mike's all time favourites.

A dress made from a pillow case, compliments of Sister Haley

Oh yeah, and just to make sure she did it right, Sister Haley made a second one - with pocket

Oh, how true.  Mum is the best cure for anything & everything.

Sunday, 15 July 2018

Mon, 9 Jul - We attended the funeral and cemetery service for Tom Anderson, long time friend and husband of Virginia Anderson.  Tom was Scottish and they had a bag piper at the cemetery.  It was a sad day and a happy day - all at the same time.  We were able to be with heaps of old friends and enjoy reminiscing about the past and sharing memories of Tom. We spent the rest of the day with Rhonda Crosbie and then went back to the Jeffree's for a good night's sleep.  Boy was it cold as there was NO heat in the house during bedtime and the temperature got down into the low 40's F.

Tue, 10 Jul - We had a delicious (and large) breakfast cooked by Katie Jeffree.  Then climbed into the car and headed for Grafton.  We did make a short stop by the LDS Distribution centre to pick up some primary supplies for Sister Cave.  We stopped just outside of Coffs Harbour (at Halfway Creek, if you must know) and visited with Barry Ward and his dogs - Honey & Midnight for about an hour before finishing the last hour of driving home.  Ah, it was good to be home.

Wed, 11 Jul -  No seminary this week - hurrah.  We visited with a few of the sisters & husbands in the branch.  Elder Haley went bowling with the Elders Quorum and young men - a way to get the two generations to have some fun together.  We did have heaps of fun, ate pizza and rolled the ball down the lanes a bit (and sometimes in the gutter).  No world records in the bowling world were set tonight at the Grafton 10 Pins place.

Thu, 12 Jul - We worked at Family History this morning.  Then ran more errands and Sister Haley worked on her pillow dress for the Relief Society activity.  Elder Haley worked on the lock on the front door of the meetinghouse - to no avail, so we have to get a new lock installed.  We also met with the seminary teacher some more and did some final planning on our trip to the Brisbane temple this coming Monday. Normally the Temple is not open on Monday, but it will be this coming monday for some of the young missionaries, so we are taking Sister Kerry Arthur up so she can be sealed to her parents.  Her sensitivity to magnetic waves and radio waves means that special consideration has to be made by the temple so she can be an environment that is as "safe" as possible for her.  Bless the temple President and staff who are doing this for her.

Fri, 13 Jul - It was not such a bad day, for Friday the 13th.  😨😱😁 We met with the seminary teacher to see if she could use Skype in the meetinghouse, but it was just way too much electromagnetic & RF for her - so back to the drawing boards.  We then played taxi driver for one of the younger members of the branch.  He bought us double Big Macs which ended up being a life saver as we had no time for dinner before meeting some others at the meetinghouse for the weekly cleaning.  Then we popped in at the Normans for a few minutes to visit with Ex-Elder Ta'ala who came back from NZ for a short visit, after completing his mission

Sat, 14 Jul - We went over in the morning to help fix a vacuum at one of the sister's homes.  Than home for lunch before the start of Branch Conference training meetings.  Branch Presidency training from 230 to 4pm.  Then Auxiliary & quorum leader training until 530 pm.  Then Pizza - hurrah.  The final meeting was on Family History and it was quite instructive on how to learn the history part of finding family names.  The class was presented by President & Sister Denley and was quite good.

Sun, 15 Jul - Branch conference Sunday.  We held all 3 hours of meetings in the chapel as one combined group (men & women).  The talks and instruction were good. The talks in the sacrament meeting portion were instructive and uplifting.  We had a potluck luncheon afterward which was also enjoyable.  Then home for a few hours before going to sleep, as Monday will start early - it is our day to drive to the Brisbane Temple with Kerry Arthur.

Katie Jeffree - one of our Aussie daughters

Elder Haley in the Jeffree family room

Mike & Paulette Phillips

The fearsome, foursome - Rhonda Wakeley, Helen Jeffree, Rhonda Crosbie, Sister Haley

Tom Anderson memorabilia.  Note the army medal and scottish tartan

Tom Anderson and some of his professional soccer photos

Virginia Anderson, Daemon, Sarah & Dennis Phillips with his back to the camera

Sister Margaret Haley & Paulette Phillips

Dennis Phillips and Elder Haley

Ambika Phillips, daughter of Luke Phillips

Charlotte Jeffree and Ambika

Katie and Tallulah

Tallulah, French bull dog

Grafton Branch Elder's and young men bowling team.

Pearce, Karl, Clive, Tom, Peter, Dave, Richard

Are we good looking or what?

The infamous lock (upper deadbolt portion) that will need to be replaced.  Oops,it started working and will not be replaced at the moment.

Margaret & Emma Helen Norman - with her wardrobe (sure looks like she is a girl, huh?  More clothes  than she could ever wear.)

Are we done yet?  I am getting bored and hungry.

Peanut butter & Chocolate Shard.  The swirls are made when the dark chocolate is poured on top of the peanut butter/white chocolate mixture.  Then the dark chocolate is swirled with a knife to give the fancy, swirl look.  Way to go, Sister Haley.  This dessert is for the branch luncheon.

Relief Society is continuing with the "fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" theme in August.  What do you have that could be used again or in a different way.  Sister Haley where are the pillow case dresses???????